I Lost a Bet

Another nice day.

In January 2021 I got into a wager with Jimmy.  He bet me the pandemic would still be going on by my birthday, which is in December.  Jimmy was 21 years older than me at the time.  I guess he still is.

We got to talking about it.  The conversation went on for about a week.  I forget what stage of lockdown we were in at the time.  We had a speakeasy where we would meet clandestinely.  Our routine was relatively undisturbed while there was panic in the streets.  Sarah was tending bar.

We had nothing else to do besides sit and solve the world’s problems.  If only someone would ask our opinion the world would be a better place.  No one with any authority ever does.  The world continues to go round the sun.  Another beautiful New Orleans morning!

Jimmy and I used to have lunch together every day.  This went on for years until Jimmy died shortly after we made this wager.  It was unexpected.  It was not Covid-related.

Anyhow, Jimmy was telling me how vain I am, which is correct.  He knew me well.  He bet me that the pandemic would still be going on in December.  The bet was if it was still going on, I would have to shave my head.

Not only was I confident things would be back to normal by now, I knew that I wouldn’t mind shaving my head.  They did it for my lobotomy once.  It was nothing.

Here is what I would get if I won: an all-expenses-paid trip to lunch at Desi Vega’s. Jimmy loved to split the king crab there so it was going to be a win-win for him no matter what.

I said, “I’ll take your bet and you’re gonna regret ’cause I’m the best that’s ever been,” or something like that.  It was a real Devil Went Down To Georgia moment.

Then, Jimmy died the next week.

In the intervening year I have had time to not think about this until recently.  My birthday arrived.

It’s true that I am very vain.  Look at what I have to work with:

I honored my debt though.  I shaved my head.  Now I am ugly:

In a New Orleans state of mind we are all God’s children, each and every one.

Now I look like that guy on the mural in Gert Town.

Gert Town is a neighborhood you will never have any reason to visit as a tourist.  I don’t have much business there but I was in the neighborhood the other day and saw this mural.  You never know what you’ll find when you wander aimlessly around New Orleans.  Wandering aimlessly is my business.

We really do live in a magical city.

When you are ready to visit New Orleans like you mean it, you know where you should stay.  Every day is filled with a kaleidoscope of details, every one more pleasant than the last.  You are on the right website.  Get your good self to New Orleans.  You have two friends on Esplanade Avenue.